Exeter MCR back in OUSU
Exeter College MCR voted conclusively last Friday to re-affiliate to OUSU, after a year spent officially detached from the university students' union.
After what was, by all accounts, a fairly uncontentious debate on the issue, around 80 per cent of those voting backed a proposal to rejoin. The pro-affiliation cause was aided by the personal presence of this year's OUSU VP (Graduates) Dan Paskins in the Common Room's meeting - delivering what has been described as a compelling case in favour of re-affiliation prior to the vote.
Last year's decision to disaffiliate came amidst disquiet over a perceived lack of graduate representation at OUSU, and subsequent belief that the body gave poor value for money.
Speaking to The Oxford Student, Exeter MCR President Dirk-Yan Omtzigt pointed out that "A year ago, OUSU was in a mess. The VP (Graduates) [Andy Garlick] had just resigned and there was a feeling that the organisation offered little for graduates."
Now, however, Omtzigt believes things have changed, citing both the presence of a graduate council and the personal aptitude of Dan Paskins as major factors behind the outcome of the vote.
It has also transpired that the period of disaffiliation did not prove as financially beneficial to Exeter MCR as had initially been hoped. As the current President (who was not a member of the Common Room when last year's decision was taken) pointed out, the cost of purchasing numerous OUSU services on an individual basis - including tickets to Freshers' Fair and official publications - can easily exceed subscription costs.
Whilst the students' union is obliged, under the 1994 Education Act, to provide a number of welfare services to all students for free, for others it can charge disaffiliated bodies as it sees fit.
Mr Paskins has expressed "delight" at the MCR's decision, which can only further isolate those few Common Rooms in the university - including Oriel JCR - that remain disaffiliated.
10th Jun 2004